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St. Augustine man sentenced in hit-and-run

The man who was arrested in a hit-and-run on Old Moultrie Road six months ago was found guilty of the crime on Tuesday, according to the State Attorney’s office.

Marc Edward Lilly, 44, of St. Augustine, was sentenced to three years in prison and two years of probation for hitting Nathaniel Callahan with a van and leaving him unconscious on Old Moultrie on Jan. 6.

Callahan was driving a moped to work around 5 a.m. when he was hit.

A passerby noticed on the side of the road and called 9-1-1, according to the arrest report.

He had recently moved from South Carolina his wife and five children and was trying to find work.

Shortly after the accident, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Lilly.

Lilly pleaded no contest to the charges of leaving the scene of an accident involving injury and leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage.

The state has requested restitution for Callahan, who is dealing with thousands of dollars in medical bills because of his injuries. A restitution hearing will be scheduled later.

Callahan said he spoke before the court on Tuesday, and that he was satisfied with Lilly’s sentence.

“It was God’s will, ya know,” Callahan said over the phone. “It was what I prayed for.”

Callahan spent several days in a coma and has spent the last six months recovering from his injuries.

Doctors told him it could be later than September before he is ready to go back to work, he said. Callahan has been focused on recovering so he can support his wife and children, but he said that he has forgiven Lilly.